World Building (Broken Lands)

I was thinking Hound & his gang have an obligation to help protect Arsenic's source. Life-debt maybe. 


They roam the region taking gigs but if Arsenic puts out a signal, they'll be back in a hurry.
 
So then, I ask: why has the Waterbearer been able to keep control? Why haven't the local hardholders stormed in and fucker her up? 


"Because I share it. And because it isn't what you think it is. It's not some switch you can just throw to see the water. I'm the fucking key, just like my Father and just like his mother before that. It is our blood that throws the switch! Besides that. I have men. I have the Tower Babylon and none of the other holds can match what I offer.
 
@WlfSamurai I didn't intend to come off so hostile; I don't think you did anything wrong. I appreciate it, though.


@Teh Frixz Does she have men? The playbook mentions some confidantes, but nothing like a gang. And is she really the only person able to actually get water? The playbook doesn't mention anything about it being locked to one person, only that you're an appointed care-taker of the source.
 
"My men? Well if two is company and three is a crowd, then four is a gang? Plus plenty of people could be rousted up for free water." 


"My source is from the Golden age, maintained by my family line for who knows how long. The pipes and tanks only sing songs for my bloodline, the cost being my blood to unlock the system through the Deena. I'm now appointed, my Father ,Cyanide, gave it to me. He got it from his Mother, Strychnine, and I'll hold it until I bear child and give it to them." 


"I think the threat of Embargo keeps me safe more than Babylon or my guns. The source has been in my family for so long, people just seem to accept it. I give tours to people that want to see the old world tech, the pumps and Deena. I even let them try the Deena gate. Let them put their thumbs in the gate, let them feel the pinch and smile as the red words pop up. ACCESS DENIED. I give them a ration of water and send them on their way. All are welcome but none have the key." 
 
Bright and the Seekers flocked to the water source hoping to find the secret to its purity, and learn from it, so that their search for enlightement would continue. In exchange for that they gave their bodies to the Waterbearer. They work hard, preach, attract travelers to the source, and do whatever Arsenic orders, until the day when the source's secret will be cracked. Then they will move on, continuing their search.
 
Yes, I understand the IC justification, but is your character being the only person capable of even getting the water allowed mechanically in the playbook? Because then there couldn't even be a threat to someone deposing you.
 
I don't see a rule saying I can't? And what's stopping me from being deposed, or chained up and drained of blood when water is needed, or whats stopping someone from stealing my blood to use. It's thematic, a symbolization of the haves and have nots, of a benevolent monarch. A world building element of a DNA encoded water pumping plant held by a family line years after an apocalypse has happened.


What if I do die? What will the other PC's do in retaliation, what if Bright's followers contaminate the Source or what if they Crack the encoding? Seems to me like the proverbial glass of water is half full rather than half empty, the sheer amount of plot points for the MC to use with a situation like this is a good trade off. 
 
Most importantly, it's what I was saying before, it's called out in the playbook and Arsenic chose it:


Screen Shot 2016-08-12 at 7.43.26 PM.png
 
I don't have an issue with it being the only reliable source of clean water. I'm asking if it can still be used if the character is dead. 
 
An interesting question, though I would think it would crazy if not. But I guess it's possible that the Maelstrom is required to use The Source? I guess I had assumed it was just a big-ass grouping of plumbing and tanks.
 
I agree that it would be crazy if it was totally cut off if she was killed.


The only reason this is such a concern to me is that I expect the characters to get in conflict over the laws pretty early on. My character needs water, obviously, as everyone does. One of the laws says 'give up your firearms', which as a hard-headed gunlugger he will never, ever do. The penalty is execution. Unless they're willing to make an exception, Wernicke is going to start shooting (because he needs water to survive- it is a life or death situation) and I'm pretty confident that a Gunlugger will win out against anything there.
 
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Make me a deal. Think of a law mixture of the Immortan Joe and Master Blaster. I don't mind some people having weapons. 
 
But the key is that you're all allies at the beginning. Even if not friends. You're a Gunlugger. There's obviously a reason you're allowed to keep your weapons.


With that said, @Teh Frixz, I just read your posts more detailed. Was that you're concept? Your blood/DNA is somehow required took use The Source?


If it is, I like it as long as we work it in together. I don't want to stream-roll it just because. Also, is that something you chose as an option for The Source?
 
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Not really, my idea was that the source is some golden age water reclamation facility/holding tank that Arsenic's great great great grand pappy or mammy worked as a scientist at. When shit went down, whatever it was, their family held up there with some other scientists and just stayed there. The first Scientist there had a DNA encoded master switch and that just became the gate that her blood line still uses. 
 
Conceivably Arsenic has some relatives who can do it, but taboo and ignorance keep them from realizing it. 
 
I'm fine with that. There are ways around it. I'm thinking no one's had a real chance to try yet.  :ph34r:
 
Total taboo, only one of her family is supposed to waterbear at a time, more than that is something akin to committing blatant public incest. 


The 'public' source is hundreds of small pipes that dump into a big open top holding tank outside. Inside the Source is tons of Golden Age tech (most of it broken) but the essentials are running. It's very akin to a church atmosphere inside, with each bit of running tech tended to by Arsenic's source crew / family with religious intensity. Lots of comfort items from the generations of her family living there, I'd say maybe ten to twenty blood relatives, most currently children or feeble elders. Her named group, those are the last able bodied adults in the Source. 
 
See, I don't want to sound like a dick, but my character is a dick. He doesn't need to take a gig for something when he can just take something. He doesn't want anyone to be his boss. If you don't mind working as more of a partnership, with your character running the source itself and him working security/keeping order, that would be fine. He'd stop trouble-makers, defend the place from attackers, but not take orders to go do something. In exchange, he gets water, lives there, and doesn't have to abide by the same rules. I'd rework him from being a fairly young psychopathic raider badass to an older, slightly regretful, retired raider badass.
 
He can work within the laws (minus the gun thing) as an enforcer by proxy but I don't think he'd be trusted inside 
 
Never mind, then. He'll just come to get water and get it one way or another.
 
So, tell me more about The Source. I see you did not choose that a market has grown up around it. I'm guessing various communities send tankers to pick up their water and barter with you?
 
That's how we get what we need at the source. The water market built down in the bay's. They bring in good, my brewer judges the amount of water it is worth and we fill up. Some of the established communities get a weekly shipment rather than a per trade load. 


Purposefully we cut deals and make sure people get water. Not gonna have people dying on my steps and we want good relations with who will let us. 
 
There's things'll try and hit the water caravans. Hound and his goons often leave with them and provide some protection - for a price - and then veer off on a trip once they reach their destination.
 
So, since The Source isn't the main community, what is? Where do you guys call home? Is there one main grouping of people a short distance from The Source?


And are there any other holdings beyond that home community?
 
I think the game is at its best when there are multiple towns, groups, communities, etc.


Wernicke is more of a nomad than anything else. I doubt he has a permanent residence at this time. If he does, it's a rarely used shack in one of the more populated holds out there.
 
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